A bunch of hoodlums razing down parts of a Lagos market last week has brought on consequences for the residents being that the tomato sellers they rely on to store up piles of these succulent veggies are mourning the loss of up to 60,000 crates they use for transporting the crucial soup-making ingredient from up north and then down to the southwest consumers.

By the time workers marking the May Day anniversary were getting on with their respective mass gatherings all over Nigeria, several people at the Ile-Epo market in the Alimosho district of Lagos found themselves contending with injuries they had sustained when a fracas broke out among troublemakers which also led to supplies getting ruined.

The Tomato Crates Dealers Association of Nigeria, as a body, is shouldering the cost of the destruction and seeks both federal and state government responses to help milden the pain of the crates members had lost.

ILE-EPO CRISIS: POLICE RESTORE NORMALCY, DOMINATE AREA

Following reports of clashes among some youths and hoodlums in the Ile-Epo area of Lagos State, the DPO Oke-Odo swiftly led his men to the scene, and have since restored normalcy.

Over fifty suspects have so far been 1/4

— Lagos State Police Command (@LagosPoliceNG) May 2, 2024

 

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Without this, the association may resort to boycotting future tomato deliveries to Lagosians. Its National Chairman, Alhaji Ahmed Alaramma, stated this during a Zaria news briefing in Kaduna on Sunday 6 May.

Over 70 members of the association rent out the crates to tomato dealers across the country; we have over 60,000 crates which were about to be returned to the north at the market during the turmoil.

These crates were burnt by the ‘area boys’ during the clash and they prevented our people from quenching the fire.

We have audio-visual and other proof supporting our claims. If nothing is done, we will have no option than to cut the supply of tomatoes to Lagos over this incident.

Before the more sustainable plastic tomato trays came into vogue, wicker baskets one time were the common container where all tomato balls making their way to Lagos or any part of the southwest would usually make their appearance.

In this condition, not all the balls make it to the market stalls and subsequently, household kitchen shelves in the pristine state that the northern Nigeria farmer had released them.

The Tomato Crates Dealers Association of Nigeria hence are vital for ensuring that the ball-like red vegetables stay presentable as they transit through different value chains.